Eric5676
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Posts posted by Eric5676
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If you have the patience, that AVS thread has basically gotten into a back and forth about AIFF and it's best for you all to read it for yourselves but long/short: There's ways to get around the problem and so forth so IMO...best read but others may come away different...I don't see a "deal breaker" situation here.
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I'm amazed someone under NDA could post this but here goes:
The 105 has 2 types of USB input. The first is what people are used to on the 83/93/95 where you hook up a USB drive and the Oppo reads the media files, decodes them, and converts to PCM to pass the audio to it's DAC's.The 2nd type is a USB audio input which connects to a USB port on your PC and shows up as an audio output device on the PC (think of it as a sound card that connects to the PC with a USB cable instead of plugging into an expansion slot). In this case, the PC has the responsibility of reading your music files and converting them to PCM, then sends the audio to the sound card (which in this case is the 105) to play. So in this case, only your PC would need to know what to do with the AIFF and ALAC files.
Still seeing some warnings about speculation, too, so don't sign off completely on everything yet. I think this person knew they had to put out a potential fire as best possible.
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Odds and ends:
Hi folks. I was the user that made that phone call to Oppo. They basically explained that due to the high cost of licensing Apple codecs, etc., they won't be incorporating AIFF nor ALAC compatibility any time soon on their players. This is a big drawback and almost a deal-breaker for me (and I love the company and own 3 different players, including the 95), specially after spending most of this year ripping my collection to AIFF. The quote above is, however, correct in the sense that one could easily connect a computer to play back AIFF or ALAC files and use the back USB input with (I assume) no issues at all. -
Not surprisingly, I'm seeing hints that the 105 "might" be a little more expensive than the 95 simply because it's a whole new animal of sorts. It's essentially this "all in one" preamp player type device instead of just being a disc and media file player only.
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Probably not enough people were using eSata to justify keeping it in.
Very likely.
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Yeah, but I didn't see an HDCD logo...
Ta da! IThey have HDCD!
Someone asked in 133, confirmed by insider in post 134 of that same AVS thread.
That 105 unit is practically a pre-amp/player the way this is shaping up.
E-sata looks dead.
When asked why E-sata is dead another insider responded:
No eSATA port on the 103 or 105. I can't discuss whyIMO someone under NDA saying that means (hopefully?) something equal and/or better than what E-sata was there for is on these new units instead. My best guess.
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As expected: Got the NDA coverage response as far as the HDMI inputs question goes. They told me to "ask again later" so that's going to be interesting.
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TRANSLATION: The Oppo will be recognized (by the PC) as an external sound card to decode all your audio files, including DSD files (SACD ISO or DSDiff files, as offered by some music sites like HighResAudio)
That's credible.
No one's shot it down including the guys in that thread that I know are pretty close to Oppo and under NDAs. The silence speaks volumes.
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Thats awesome eric. Thanks for actually reading avsforum
All part of the service.
It is pretty easy to get lost in the techno jargon and some of the crazy arguments that happen. I skim and lurk when I'm interested in something. My patience goes out the window not too long after that. -
so the Oppo BR players sound good?
Quite. The folks under NDA are doing some clever tapdancing in that AVS thread I linked to but there's some tidbits that are getting posted that are worth taking a glance at that thread every so often for.
recstar:
Question - since it would have hdmi input, you could hook up say your cable feed to it and benefit from it's awesome up scaling capabilities, correct? My current cable box is setup to output native which means the tv (panny g25) is doing the up scaling, but the oppo is I'm sure way better.Edit: apologize for the avsforum tone in this post. Those videophiles are nuts.
The question about HDMI inputs:
I asked about those directly in the thread. We'll see if the NDA allows them to answer it yet.
If they say yes and the Oppos can be used like external videoprocessors and switchers ... the QDEO videoprocessing is the best on the market and I'll be making plans to sell my DVDO Duo in short order to subsidize the upgrade.
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As usual per new Oppo gear these look pretty appealing, especially with the digital inputs. Will the price points be staying the same?
If their usual patterns hold it's going to be pretty close.
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^^ A lot of you here wanted Oppo to add onboard DAC capabilities and that is confirmed for the new 105 unit in the previous post. What DACs are they going to use? I'm sure it'll be some of the best...probably ESS Sabre again in a "worse case" scenario. I think these players are going to hit a lot of marks for a lot of people. Stay tuned.
For the hit and runs:
These are the confirmed new features thus far over the existing 93/95 line:
New or Enhanced BDP-103/105 Shared Features:
- Latest generation QDEO which supports 4K upscaling
- 2x2 HDMI. Two HDMI inputs; Two HDMI outputs.
- The Front HDMI input supports MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) which allows some of the newer smartphones to be connected direct to the player and transmits the phones screen to the television. This also allows for ROKU Stick support.
- Newest Netflix interface which supports 1080p video, multi-channel audio, subtitle and alternative language selection, and Family Interface
- Gracenote for looking up media information such as album art, artist, album, and track information for your CD, SACD, and user generated media
- Backlit Eject buttons. No more thumbing around in the dark.
- No more analog video. There is a "DIAG" port, but this is to only see the OPPO UI when there is no media playback. So for those of you who use a small monitor for media playback, you will need to upgrade to a DVI/HDMI capable display.
New BDP-105 Only Features:- Fanless (unlike the BDP-95)
- Headphone Amplifier
- Optical, Digital Coaxial and asynchronous USB DAC
- Properly oriented XLR outputs
That's right. The 105 is going to be DAC, headphone amp, and a partridge in a pear tree basically.
- Fanless (unlike the BDP-95)
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1
- Latest generation QDEO which supports 4K upscaling
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Something a lot more meaningful and specific as a response to an email I sent directly:
I emailed them and got back this:
New 93's are gone for good but we have plenty of new BDP-95s. No rush to move them out.
We plan to have the specs for the 93 replacement in approximately 2 weeks. The 95 replacement is also in the works but could very well slide into 2013 for launch.
As before, the 93 successor will come out first and we're shooting to start selling some time in October. The 95 successor's design has not been finalized.
Again, watch for news within the next couple of weeks.
Best Regards,
Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc. “
More:
Start from that post and work your way down. We have some cam shots and the units will be the 103 and 105.
This will turn heads here:
Went out to dinner tonight which included seeing the Oppo BDP-103 and BDP-105.Haven't had time to post the details at our CEDIA blogs yet but I will soon.
You'll see nice changes like HDMI/MHL inputs for video processing, 1080p Netflix with 5.1 audio, and a 105 with USB. Optical, and Coaxial inputs to use the DAC for audio.
Time to write them up and post the really, really horrible pictures I have of them.
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From yesterday:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1291855/official-oppo-bdp-93-owners-thread/22700_100#post_22371755
"There won't be any more brand-new BDP-93's. We're anticipating a replacement model later this year, but we do not have a release date or any more details at this time. There should be more information to share soon, so please stay tuned.
Best regards,"
Derek Bushman
OPPO Digital Inc.
www.oppodigital.com
(650) 961-1118
The 93 is out of stock. This is the typical "something's about to happen or be announced" pattern for Oppo. 95 is still in stock for now.
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These:
And these:
http://www.twice.com...a-and-us/103030
New York — Several companies announced new headphones this week, with some using the IFA show in Berlin as a platform for their launches.Sennheiser launched at the show its Momentum headphones as part of the company’s Style Selection line. These have what the company described as a “minimalist design,” with leather ear pads and a leather and stainless-steel headband. They also have circumaural ear cups and come with a second cable with in-line mic and controls for use with iOS devices.
Frequency range for the Momentum is listed at 16Hz to 22kHz, with impedance of 18 ohms. Suggested retail is $349.
For in-ear models, Sennheiser launched the CX 890i ($149) and CX 985 ($159).
The CX 890i are engineered with a black glassy finish, Sennheiser said, and an in-line mic and controls for Apple devices. The CX 985, meanwhile, have a slimmed-down volume slider and a metal clip to attach to clothing. The ear adapters are silicon and foam, with a choice of seven sizes.
For athletes, Sennhesier unveiled new headphones as part of its partnership with Adidas. The PX 685i ($79.95) features an adjustable neckband, reinforced cable and a choice of black or white. They are designed to be water-, sweat- and cold-resistant, and can be rinsed beneath the tap after a workout.
All of Sennheiser’s headphones are scheduled to be available in the fall.
TDK Life on Record also went to IFA to unveil two headphones that will be offered in the U.S. The ST750 over-ear headphones feature 40mm drivers, a built-in amplifier that’s said to increase volume by 6dB, oval-shaped ear cushions, and a $249 suggested retail.
For in-ear headphones, TDK unveiled the IE800 ($199) with a dual-driver design: one is dedicated to bass and the other to mid/high frequencies. They come with Comply foam tips.
SOL Republic announced its latest model this week, the Tracks Ultra, which feature the company’s V12 detachable “sound engines.” With a suggested retail of $179, they have the highest price point of the company’s headphones.
The Tracks Ultra feature SOL’s FlexTech Sound Track headbands that can be swapped out. They also have an in-line mic and controls.
Logitech launched several new models in its UE line, all scheduled to be available in September. The 900 earphones ($399) are the company’s top-of-the-line model, with a four balanced-armature design. They come with both silicon and Comply tips, and two detachable braided cords: one with in-line mic and controls and one without.
The 9000 Bluetooth headphones ($399) can fold flat and feature active noise canceling technology and 40mm drivers. The around-the-ear model has a wireless range of 50 feet, a rechargeable battery pack with up to 10 hours of battery life, asymmetrical memory-foam ear cushions and articulating joints, meant to conform to the user’s head.
The 6000 headphones ($199) have a fold-flat design and come with a splitter that lets users share music with another listener. They also feature active noise-canceling technology, but these use two AA batteries instead of a rechargeable pack.
The 4000 headphones ($99.99) are billed as being a more compact model, and they also come with the sharing splitter. They have 40mm drivers, in-line mic and controls, memory-foam ear cushions, a travel pouch and a choice of three colors.
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Huh. Wasn't expecting this popular response. Glad I was able to drop off some good news.
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Very disappointed in this decision and the possible trend it could stand for.
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Right direct from Oppo themselves on their Twitter page:
https://twitter.com/OPPODIGITAL
We generally release new players every 18 to 24 months. A new player will likely be released by the end of the year.Best bets: Dual core at least, 4k, latest Marvell QDEO video processing, wouldn't be surprised to see a higher end variant come out in 2013 to succeed the 95.
Overall, I expect to see further improvements and streamlining/addition of features for the Internet, streaming, supported files, etc. etc.
That's been their cycle to a tee and it's a safe bet it's going to happen again here if that's anything to go by.
Stay tuned.
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http://www.bigpictur...eadphones.shtml
Earlier today, Sony made a big splash with the debut of the company's 84-inch 4K TV. However, today wasn't just about the big picture; Sony plans to crank out some pretty big sound as well, via its MDR-1 headphones.
Yes, headphones. The newly announced MDR-1 is a premium headband-type headphone product, designed in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment. Available in three flavors, the company is planning to launch a standard model, as well as Bluetooth wireless and digital noise canceling versions of the product.
Boasting a "Beat Response Control" design, each of the MDR-1 models has a new 40mm Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) driver and a response range of 4Hz to 80kHz. A closed back promises maximum isolation and exceptional bass response, while enlarged air vents at the back of each driver boast a quick and rhythmic low frequency response.
Designed to rock out all day, the standard MDR-1R model has comfy ear cushions and an acoustic seal. Sony also says that the MDR-1R has a unique hanger structure that actually moves the headphones' housing axis inward, for a better fit.
All three models have everything mentioned above, but the MDR-1RBT Bluetooth headset adds in the option to listen without wires. Promising up to 30 hours of playback on a single charge, this model also has One Touch by Sony incorporating Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which basically means that you only need to touch compatible devices to establish a connection. No setup process or configurations are needed.
The third MDR-1 model in the line is the MDR-1RNC. This option features Sony's Artificial Intelligence Noise Canceling technology, which promises to reduce up to 99.7 percent of ambient noise whether on an airplane, on a train or in an office. The MDR-1RNC also boasts about 22 hours of battery life.
Sony plans to start shipping the MDR-1R, the MDR-1RBT and the MDR-1RNC sometime this November. Expect prices to be listed at $299, $399 and $499, respectively.
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For folks not happy with Diablo 3 I'm getting the idea Torchlight 2 might be where it's at. The Steam preorder on that is super generous. You get the first game and you're set for the second game for a mere $20. Crazy value and the beta feedbacks and such suggest a potential huge lovefest in the makings. If you go on the Runic forums it's looking like mid June thereabouts for a release. The folks in the beta are saying the game feels fairly polished and complete even now.
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Been happy with my pair since the day they first came out.
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http://www.bigpictur...ecordings.shtml
Digital audio technology has advanced both the quality and convenience of music listening. Now you can carry around your entire music collection -- in high quality lossless formats, if you are so inclined -- in your pocket and listen to them anywhere with a pair of headphones. But most recordings are made for playback on speaker systems. When you listen to standard recordings on a pair of headphones, the sonic experience is different -- stereo mixes intended for loudspeaker playback don't always sound quite right. It's difficult to get a believable soundstage or a realistic illusion of "being there" when you listen to music through headphones. Or is it?A technique called binaural recording can be used to capture musical performances, presenting the listener with an almost uncanny sense of imaging and soundstage on headphones. By placing two microphones into the ears of an artificial head, and then playing back these recordings through a high quality pair of headphones, it really is like "being there." Close your eyes and you are transported to that musical performance. But binaural recordings don't always sound great through traditional speakers.
Chesky Records says they've gotten around this dilemma with their new Binaural+ Series of high quality audiophile two-channel recordings. Unveiled today at the New York Audio and AV Show at the Waldorf=Astoria hotel in Manhattan, Chesky's Binaural+ recordings are optimized for headphone listening but also create a high-quality musical presentation on standard loudspeakers.
Crystal Cable into the MSB 384/32 Analog to Digital Converter. Recordings in the Binaural+ series are mastered at a super high-resolution 192-kHz sampling rate with 24-bit precision (24/192). This is far superior to CD's 44.1 Khz/16-bit format and leaves MP3 files squarely in the dust.
I had a chance to listen to tracks from "Dr. Chesky's Amazing Binaural Sound Show" through a pair of Etymotic Research ER4P earphones and was very impressed with the realistic illusion of depth and presence, not to mention the wonderfully accurate harmonic balance and wide dynamic range. Many tracks are impressive but one of my favorites is "Dancing Flute and Drums," featuring Anne Drummond on flute and & Dr. Chesky himself on the Djun Djun (an African drum). While the pulsing drum stays consistent on the right side of the stage, the flutist walks around from side to side, in front of and behind you. The illusion of being in the room with these musicians is almost eery. And this sonic quality holds up when listening through traditional speakers albeit without the imaging intensity of headphone listening. Audiophiles who like their music on the go are in for a real treat.
According to a Chesky rep, "The headphone market is booming and we think it is important to bring the ultimate in high-resolution sound to this sector of the record business. Now headphone users will hear the same three-dimensional sound and imaging as audiophiles have for the past 25 years with Chesky Recordings."
Chesky's Current and Planned Binaural+ Releases include:
Explorations in Space and Time - Lenny White, Jamey Haddad and Mark Sherman
Wycliffe Gordon's New Orleans Project - Wycliffe Gordon and band
Dr. Chesky's Amazing Binaural Sound Show - Various Artists
Forthcoming album from sensational new folk singer Amber Rubarth with accompaniment from David Eggar
For more information, go to www.Chesky.com or www.HDTracks.com.
Awesome. Hope there's plenty more where this is coming from.
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I keep seeing these sorts of developments and I keep inching a little bit closer to taking one of these for a test spin myself.
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Wanting to compete with a $100 set top box with a $300+ console is an interesting take.
If it's even true.
What I basically get out of all of this rumoring and such is: Valve wants to make Steam the Android of the gaming world. Frankly I feel like I'm already seeing that in progress.
I can use Steam on the PC, the PS3, the Mac, this: http://store.steampowered.com/mobile this: http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/thebigpicture.php and so forth. I can't see Valve making hardware for themselves and they don't have to. Look at Google with Google TV, for example.
So it's going to be interesting to watch unfold.
New Oppo player for late 2012
in Home Source Components
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